Bangor’s Congregation Beth El plans its Community Seder for 5 p.m. Saturday, April 3, at Jeff’s Catering, 5 Coffin Ave., Brewer. It will be a traditional celebration on the second night of Passover. The Seder will be led by Rabbi Darrah Lerner. Take part in the readings from… Read More
Ray Beless of Dover-Foxcroft has been appointed chaplain of the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Department. Beless is pastor of the Abbot Evangelical Free Church and is a certified law enforcement chaplain. Among his duties will be death notifications, assisting the department in emergencies and attending special events. Read More
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Brian Sims was stuck in traffic when a car with a booming stereo pulled up next to him. Feeling vibrations from the pulsating vehicle, the Baptist pastor who ministers to the deaf got an idea: create a one-of-kind church exclusively for deaf… Read More
AUGUSTA – People lobby legislators every day on a host of issues – but only a few do so from a position of faith and set their priorities based on Scripture. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, the Maine Council of Churches and the Christian… Read More
New Life Ministries and Cross Connected will co-sponsor a “worship weekend” March 16-18 at the Bangor Motor Inn on the Hogan Road. The three-day event will include worship, seminars and concerts. Doors will open at 6 p.m. Friday, March 16, for an outreach concert. The Kingpin Wrecking Crew,… Read More
The Belfast United Methodist Church, 23 Mill Lane, will hold a Lenten movie series this month. All movies will begin at 6 p.m. Fridays and be shown on a big screen in the sanctuary. “Jesus Christ Superstar,” will be shown on March 16. “The Passion of the Christ”… Read More
Three Mount Desert Island-area ministers are seeking churches and island residents to participate in “From Every Village Green,” an event designed to acknowledge the fourth anniversary on March 17 of the Iraq war with public gatherings in 100 towns throughout the state. The ministers – the Rev. William… Read More
Congregation Beth El will hold its Purim celebration at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 3. The synagogue also will hold a Purim carnival at 12:40 p.m. Sunday. Purim is a celebration of deliverance from destruction. The Purim story from a Megillah, a scroll from the biblical Book of Esther,… Read More
A few weeks ago, the world was a dangerous place. Saddam Hussein had been stripped of his power and dignity and was being kept in a cage like an old, sick tiger at the zoo, but he was still alive. What if he escaped and… Read More
BANGOR – Bangor Theological Seminary said six men and women have joined its 16-member board of trustees. Trustees serve three-year terms and may serve three terms. The board governs the school and meets three times a year. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes… Read More
We will tell the next generation the praise worthy deeds of the Lord, His power and the wonders he has done. PSALM 78:4, TODAY’S NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false;… Read More
BANGOR – The details of an encounter between a prominent Queen City couple and a famous American painter 184 years ago have become clearer since last month’s sale of a historic homestead in Torrington, Conn., uncovered two long-forgotten portraits. The couple, the Rev. Harvey Loomis… Read More
PrISM, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the spiritual well-being of students of all faiths at Northern Maine Community College and the University of Maine at Presque Isle, is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The group’s mission is to provide “quiet support” to students,” said the Rev. James Morgan of… Read More
Allen C. Myers of Deer Isle has been called to serve as pastor of West Brooksville Congregational Church. Born in New Jersey, Myers, 63, grew up in South Bristol, Maine, and worked in the family seafood business. Teaching, ministry, music and the sea have been the major threads… Read More
I recently attended a luncheon that was held in the ballroom on the University College of Bangor campus that focused on awareness of Islam. At first, to be completely honest, I felt rather annoyed by the sound of such an event. I soon realized that… Read More
The Rev. Rob McCall told a story on a recent Sunday afternoon in the basement meeting room of the First Congregationalist Church of Blue Hill. “One time, my little brother, John – he’s three years younger than I am – he must have been about… Read More
The Rev. Susan M. Lederhouse will be installed as rector Sunday at St. James’ Episcopal Church. Bishop Chilton R. Knudsen, head of the Episcopal Diocese of Maine, will preside. Lederhouse, 52, worked for 25 years as a librarian in Massachusetts, North Carolina, Tennessee and Florida. She was ordained… Read More
The Milbridge Congregational Church last month named the Rev. Eric Kelley of Jonesport interim pastor. Kelley spent his childhood in Jonesport before attending the University of Maine, where he received a bachelor’s degree in education. He earned a master’s degree from Bangor Theological Seminary and his Ph.D. from… Read More
Within minutes of reading this column, you will be making some major decisions. What will next receive your attention? Will you snack before your next meal? Will you smile at the next person you meet? How will you handle your next disappointment? If you think… Read More
Maine Preservation and the Maine Community Foundation have announced the creation of the Maine Steeples Project. The idea behind the initiative: help preserve church steeples statewide. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for… Read More
Every once in a while, the Rev. Ron Libby, a retired military police officer, would turn to a prisoner and think, “There but for the grace of God go I.” It may be a cliche, but at least a dozen Bangor-area police, probation and corrections… Read More
MIAMI – Football’s faithful will file into house parties, bars and, of course, Dolphin Stadium on Super Bowl Sunday to observe their holiest of holy days. But they’ll also turn out in force at churches across the country, which are tapping the popularity of sports in hopes of… Read More
OLD TOWN – The Rev. Susan M. Lederhouse will be installed in a celebration of new ministry at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11, at St. James’ Episcopal Church, corner of Center and Main streets. The Rev. Chilton R. Knudsen, Episcopal Bishop of Maine, will preside. Read More
BANGOR – Bishop Richard J. Malone has reversed his position on keeping secret the names of priests removed from ministry due to accusations of sexual abuse before June 2002. Previously, Malone publicly identified priests only after the Vatican had adjudicated their cases and disciplined them. Read More
In 1979, I was about to enter rabbinical school. It is a five-year postgraduate program – quite a commitment for a 25-year-old man. I remember talking with my father about how uncertain I was to embark upon such a long program of study, given the… Read More
Editor’s Note: BDN copy editor Tracy Collins spent six weeks in Guatemala last summer mentoring teenage girls through the Safe Passage program. Seven years ago, Hanley Denning watched the dump trucks unload. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes =… Read More
BANGOR – The Rev. Thomas G. Long sits through about 700 sermons a year. He knows good preaching. He knows bad preaching. And he teaches preachers at Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes =… Read More
BANGOR – Theologians, preachers and writers will participate next week in Bangor Theological Seminary’s annual convocation at the Hammond Street Congregational Church. The theme for the 102nd three-day event is “The Word and the World.” googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]];… Read More
When my wife was a teenager growing up on the edge of New York City, she and her friends used to skip school sometimes for kicks and take the bus to Grand Central Station to panhandle. One of their amusements was to talk in a pretend language, thinking… Read More
Thomas Kelly embraces life, having survived two bouts with cancer. But when the end comes, the retired nurse is leaving nothing to chance. Appalled by seeing swollen hospital patients on feeding tubes and respirators during his career, Kelly, 78, of North Kingstown, R.I., signed a… Read More
The first time I visited Nilambe Meditation Centre I was in college, a sophomore. Nilambe is nestled between ancient peaks in the Central Highlands just outside of Kandy, Sri Lanka. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var… Read More
There are only small signs in Chicago that Augustine Tolton was here. A few buildings, including a home for senior citizens, carry his name. But the Roman Catholic church where he preached his sermons to flocks of adoring parishioners on Chicago’s South Side is long… Read More
ELLSWORTH – United Baptist Church has a new interim pastor. The Rev. James Waugh will start Sunday. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0; i < slot_sizes.length; i++) {… Read More
At this time of year people of all different faiths are celebrating the beginning of winter. We all have customs which include lighting candles at this dark time of year so as to beckon the sun and moon to brighten and warm our days and nights. Read More
How can anyone believe that a human being was God? How could a mere man down here simultaneously be God up there? googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i = 0;… Read More
Frame by frame, “The Nativity Story” succeeds at bringing the story of Jesus’ birth to life but fails to illuminate the hope and faith the child’s birth sparked. Director Catherine Hardwicke and screenwriter Mike Rich fill the screen with all the human emotions left out… Read More
“The spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are… Read More
Madonna caused a stir recently. But that’s nothing new. It’s kind of her thing. Madonna wakes up in the morning, has a cup of coffee, the caffeine goes to her head, and she says, “Well, I think I’ll cause a stir today.” Actually, I don’t… Read More
A couple of years ago I attended a “singspiration.” Several churches had been invited to an afternoon of hymn singing and special solo-group performances. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner = false; for (var i… Read More
Fiddler on the Roof” is one of the best plays of all time. Though it deals with particularly Jewish topics and times, its themes are universal. It is available as a movie on video or DVD. Please watch it! googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot… Read More
The Rev. D. Mitchell Mullenax is asking churches to act as Jesus did and welcome the nearly 2,600 children in Maine’s foster care system into their congregations. The Fairfield man doesn’t want them to stop there. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes =… Read More
ORONO – Her head is wrapped in a scarf, her body draped by a loose-fitting skirt and button-down shirt, her hands and nails stained with henna, but Hibat Sharif isn’t really that different from other students at the University of Maine. Sharif, 18, is a… Read More
Hey, have you heard about that preacher from Denver a few weeks ago? Phony as a $3 bill. Telling people to behave while all the while he’s running around with another fellow, doing drugs. That’s exactly why you’ll never get me in your church, mister. The whole church… Read More
BUCKSPORT – The new church in town is giving the community what it asked for – a lesson in parenting. Penobscot Bay Presbyterian Church will offer a six-hour seminar, “Training Your Children with Love and Direction,” from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18,… Read More
BANGOR – Scott E. Clark, who is organist at First Baptist Church in Lansdale, Pa., will give an organ concert at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15, at Columbia Street Baptist Church. A native of New York, Clark holds a degree in organ performance from Roberts… Read More
The Jacksonville United Methodist Church is seeking other churches and organizations to partner an effort to raise funds by selling 24-inch balsam fir wreaths. The wreaths would be made in Washington County, then delivered to towns along the Interstate 95 corridor in early December. Participating churches and organizations… Read More
The Chamber Choir of St. John’s Catholic Church, under the direction of Kevin Birch, will hold a series of concerts featuring rarely heard 20th century sacred music for organ and choir. The free concerts will feature organ and choral works by Dutch and French composers. The Bangor concert… Read More
An original play based on the Book of Esther will be presented this month at the Union Street Brick Church. Esther is a story of political intrigue and attempted genocide after the people of Israel were conquered by the Babylonian Empire that in turn collapsed under the Persian… Read More
The Finnish Congregational Church recently received a $5,000 grant that will be used to construct a cement basement under the historic structure. The money comes from Up East Inc., a nonprofit foundation that provides support for charitable activities in midcoast Maine. The church has raised half of $50,000… Read More
West Hampden Baptist Church marks its 150th anniversary at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, with a re-enactment of the Nov. 11, 1856, meeting that resulted in the congregation’s founding. A celebration will be held during the 10:45 a.m. service Sunday, Nov. 12. Former members and… Read More
There may be a new church in town. As Maine’s 234,000 Roman Catholics redraw the lines of their parishes and sell off property to cope with a shrinking number of priests, their bishop has approved a proposal to sell property in Dexter, Dover-Foxcroft, Milo and… Read More
Geography dictated most of the changes recently made to a plan to reorganize Maine’s 135 Roman Catholic parishes into clusters. The plan, launched last year by Bishop Richard Malone, is designed to address the state’s shifting demographics and a shortage of priests by 2010. The… Read More
CARIBOU – There was a time, not too many years ago, when there were 16 Roman Catholic priests tending to the needs of parishioners in 18 parishes, from St. Paul’s Mission in Allagash to St. Joseph’s Parish in Hamlin. Now there are seven, and the… Read More
We are beginning a new Torah cycle – the Five Books of Moses. As we do every year soon after our New Year – or Rosh Hashanah – we start over again with the reading of Genesis and, over the course of a year, complete the reading of… Read More
A Chicago woman who was healed of more than a dozen diseases including an inoperable brain tumor upon receiving the Eucharist at Medjugorge will share her testimony next week at two Catholic churches in Maine. Colleen Willard, 55, will speak after the celebration Mass at 6 p.m. on… Read More
A Stockton Springs couple has been appointed to serve as the ministers of music at St. Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church. Both the Rev. Carlton Russell and his wife, Lorna Russell, who retired two years ago to their summer home, are professional organists and choir directors with… Read More
Women’s organizations in two midcoast United Methodist churches along with members of the local Retired Senior Volunteer Program recently donated a dozen baby quilts to the Teen and Young Parent Program, based in Rockland. The mission committees of People’s UMC and St. John Street UMC held a quilting… Read More
BREWER – Twin City Baptist Church has a new pastor, Virgil E. Phinney Jr., an ordained Baptist minister. He and his wife, Cindy, are longtime residents of the Bangor area and longtime members of Twin City Baptist Church. Phinney has been interim minister at the… Read More
MACHIAS – Members of the Machias Valley Baptist Church packed 50 years of memories into a single weekend. Special services and meals made up most of the celebrating since Friday, but the most precious moment came Saturday, when Pastor George Henderson was presented with keys… Read More
“So go and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything that I have taught you, and I will be with you always, even until the end of… Read More
The little girl who asked the question was probably about 9 years old. It was a Sunday morning. The minister was at the door of his study when she just walked up and said, “Pastor, how do you know that the Bible is true?” Good… Read More
New Life Ministries will host an outreach program at 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, in Pickering Square. Members of the Brewer-based ministry will give away T-shirts along with chili, hot dogs and soft drinks. Two bands will play at the event. Earlier this year, the ministry held events… Read More
Dalton Dunfee of Corinth was recently presented with an award for 50 years of faithful and dedicated service in the Sunday school department at Charleston Pentecostal Church. He served as Sunday school superintendent for some 30 years, taught teenagers, and for the past 18 years has taught an… Read More
An expert on the relationship between Christianity and Islam will lead a daylong conference on Islam and cults Oct. 21 at Grace Evangelical Seminary. James Beverly, associate director of the Institute of American Religion in Santa Barbara, Calif., will speak. Beverly also is a professor at Tyndale Seminary… Read More
“Unleashing the Church,” a workshop sponsored by a coalition of social conservatives, organizations and churches, will be held Saturday, Oct. 7, at the Augusta Civic Center. William Federer, author of “Backfired,” will deliver the keynote address. Concerned Women for America of Maine and the Maine Jeremiah Project are… Read More
First Congregational Church welcomed Sheldon Gaard as its new director of music at its Oct. 1 service. Gaard has 30 years’ experience as a church musician, organist and director of musical ensembles, including vocal, harp and hand-bell choirs. He has served churches in Florida, Iowa, Minnesota, Oklahoma and… Read More
American Baptist Churches of Maine will celebrate 202 years of ministry and mission Oct. 19-21 at Columbia Street Baptist Church. The Rev. Jeffrey Johnson, national director of evangelism, will be the keynote speaker. The theme of the annual meeting is “come and see.” Bill and Ann Clemmer, missionaries… Read More
The Maine Council of Churches will hold a conference on eco-justice Oct. 21 at the Augusta Civic Center. Call 772-1918 or visit www.mainecouncilofchurches.org. Read More
The unadorned gray granite altar where the Rev. Laurent Nadeau celebrated Mass was like a fountainhead atop a huge stone cross, leading down to a group of believers singing psalms and praying the rosary on a cool summer afternoon. The Mass is a monthly ritual… Read More
Faith Milestones Congregation Beth El, 183 French St., Bangor, will mark its 25th anniversary this month. A weekend celebration will begin with a sunrise service Oct. 21 at the top of Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park. A Havdalah service featuring music and comedy will… Read More
The film “An Inconvenient Truth,” narrated by former Vice President Al Gore, will be shown in some 50 Maine churches, beginning Sunday. The HBO documentary “Too Hot Not to Handle,” and a short film, “Lighten Up!” also are being made available to congregations. The short… Read More
BANGOR – Individuals, couples, families and children in need of substance abuse treatment and mental health services in the Bangor area will have a new option beginning next week. Manna Ministries will open the doors of a new program at its Main Street location. googletag.cmd.push(function… Read More
One of the first Bible verses I learned as a child was John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” That’s the entire Gospel in a nutshell, and… Read More
The Islamic Center of Maine will be open for evening prayer every day at sunset during Ramadan. A potluck supper will be held at the mosque, located at Park and Washburn streets, each Saturday after prayers. The Muslim holiday was expected to begin today, the morning after the… Read More
Two members of the Bruderhof, a religious community founded in the 1920s in Germany, will speak at noon Monday at Bangor Theological Seminary on the Husson College campus. Martin and Burgel Johnston are members of the Bruderhof, a Protestant religious community founded by Eberhard Arnold. The Bruderhof believe… Read More
A national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group earlier this week released a report that showed a nearly 30 percent increase from 2004 to 2005 in the number of anti-Muslim incidents reported in the United States. The Council on American-Islamic Relations’ study outlined 1,972 incidents of violence, discrimination… Read More
St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church will present a series of faith-based courses starting Sept. 27. The objective is to create an inclusive environment that appeals to people wondering about the Episcopal Church or St. Patrick’s, as well as existing congregation members. The series of eight Christian education courses is… Read More
University of Maine philosophy professor Douglas Allen will explore how and why faith has been a source of hate and violence in a lecture, “Religion and Violence Today.” The program will be held at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 21, in the Bangor Room of the Memorial Union at… Read More
Kirk Winters wants to plant a rock in every county in Maine. The evangelical minister doesn’t mean the kind of stones that dot the landscape. Winters, 38, of Glenburn is talking about the rock on which Jesus said he would build his church. The pastor is “wholehearted” in… Read More
In one week, on Friday evening, Sept. 22, Jews will celebrate the beginning of our new year. We will celebrate Rosh Hashana. One characteristic of this holiday is that on this day the world began. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]];… Read More
The Rev. Santos Escobar stood under a tree outside a small cabin as the sun began to set. He gestured for the men who had gathered in the dirt road at the blueberry pickers’ camp in Cherryfield to move closer. The 15 or so mostly… Read More
Jennifer Skiff is searching for witnesses. She’s not looking for people who have seen crimes or historic events, but for men and women who have encountered the divine. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes = []; var has_banner =… Read More
When I first became aware of flags being burned in protest in the early 1970s, I was incensed and felt it should be a capital crime. The irony of the situation didn’t escape me: The very flag being burned represented the freedom that gave the… Read More
The current state of world affairs is certainly frightening. More and more, it seems as though there is a world war being waged, a war between civilizations, a war between modernity and medievalism. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes… Read More
BREWER – Churches, synagogues and mosques throughout the state over the past few years have contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of food, clothing, heating oil and medicine to help out laid-off workers. Many of those items have been distributed in northern Maine by… Read More
Ayse Kaplan spent her summer doing charity work. The 24-year-old seminary student worked for 10 weeks with the Eastern Maine Labor Council in an effort to make area clergy more aware of issues facing area workers. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes =… Read More
It’s fair to say the women of Matinicus Island Plantation know how to get things done. After 100 years, the women figured, it was about time to install a plumbing system in their beloved Matinicus Island Church to replace the garden hose running from a… Read More
Michio Kaku tells the story of a scientist who once trained a flea to jump whenever he rang a bell. Using a microscope, the scientist then anesthetized one of the flea’s legs and rang the bell again. The flea still jumped. He then anesthetized another… Read More
BAR HARBOR – The last wishes of the Rev. Katrina Swanson were fulfilled Sunday when three of the 11 women with whom she was ordained an Episcopal priest 32 years ago conducted her funeral service, and her ashes were buried in the Memorial Garden of St. Saviour’s Episcopal… Read More
Editor’s note: In a Voices essay last week, pharmacist Richard E. Faust of Surry argued that we are at a new spiritual beginning, with a sense of awe and wonder made possible by scientific knowledge rather than biblical revelation. Read his essay at bangordailynews.com, clicking on “Religion,” then… Read More
When I pushed the church door open in front of me, all I could see were candles. On the altar, on the floor, in the cinder blocks stacked beside – wait, cinder blocks? In a church? What was going on? I was in St. Gabriel’s… Read More
Is there a conflict between religion and science? You bet there is. And it has been with us since the dawn of early religious expression 50,000 years ago when, for example, the fear of the unknown, such as thunder and lightning, helped create the concept of god(s). Read More
A modern dress version of the Passion Play – the arrest and trial of Jesus, according to Matthew – will be presented July 21-23 at the Union Street Brick Church. The cast is made up of people from various denominations and from a variety of area churches. It’s… Read More
Carole Hallundbaek has become director of Christian education at Rockland Congregational Church, 180 Limerock St. She is author of “Dear Little One: Thoughts to My Child in an Uncertain World,” a collection of reflections to guide children through life. Hallundbaek earned her graduate degrees in theology and religion… Read More
BAR HARBOR – One of the first women to be ordained an Episcopal priest will be remembered this month at a four-day event at St. Saviour’s Episcopal Church. “A Weekend for Liberty & Justice for Women” will celebrate the life and work of the Rev. Read More
It is summer at last; time for long and lingering sunlight, angry growls of thunder on sticky days and blessed trips to the roadside ice cream stand. It is what we have all been waiting for through those dreary, brown days of late autumn, dark… Read More
ORONO – The tossing of a frozen pig’s head into a Lewiston mosque last week has upset Muslims in northern Maine, the founder of the Islamic Center of Maine reports, even though the modest mosque on Route 2 has never been the target of vandals. Read More
ABIDE WITH ME, by Elizabeth Strout, Random House, New York, 2006, 297 pages, hardback, $24.95 Elizabeth Strout has been fascinated with pastors’ lives since she attended Congregational churches with her parents as a little girl. In a different lifetime, the award-winning writer might have become… Read More
My family and I recently returned from a two-week trip to Spain and Portugal. We explored Barcelona, Granada, Cordoba and Lisbon. I always enjoy exploring Jewish sites when I travel. However, there is very little left in Spain or Portugal of its once rich Jewish… Read More
Carter Braxton was born in Virginia on Sept. 10, 1736. You’re probably not as familiar with his name as you are with the names of John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes = [[300,250]]; var new_slot_sizes =… Read More